Deandre Ayton remains with Suns Why Phoe

Deandre Ayton is staying with the Suns.The restricted free-agent center is back in Phoenix despite reaching agreement Thursday with the Pacers on a four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet.The Suns had three options after Indiana made its offer: match, figure out a sign-and-trade or let Ayton walk. They very quickly matched.The Phoenix Suns have matched the Indiana Pacers four-year, $133 million maximum offer sheet on Deandre Ayton, sources tell . Ayton stays in Phoenix. Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) Ayton, who was a key part of the Suns' 2020 run to the NBA Finals, was a restricted free agent because the Laremy Tunsil Jersey Suns previously elected not to offer him the max rookie extension he desired.MORE: His agent, Ayton was "disappointed" the Suns did not offer him the max contract."We wanted a max contract. He went out and was a solider the whole year, played well, improved his statistics," Duffy said. "A lot of guys handle things differently, but he was very mature about it."Hes a valuable player. Theres other teams in the league as well. Hes a restricted free agent, so we'll see how this proce s unfolds.The suitors were not there at the start of free agency perhaps the league was waiting to see how the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Charlie Heck Jersey Irving situations would play out. There were also rumors that .Eventually, he received an Rex Burkhead Jersey offer from the Pacers. NBA Entertainment As much as the Suns did not want to pay Ayton the max contract, they also did not want to lose a key rotation player for nothing. They simply had to match.Letting a talented young player walk without receiving any compensation would have been way too costly for a team that has championship aspirations. Two seasons ago, the Suns reached the NBA Finals; this past season, they had the best record in the league before losing to the Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs.With Chris Paul's championship window closing, now was not the time for the Suns to take a step back.When the Suns drafted Houston Texans T Shirts Ayton first overall ahead of players like Luka Doncic and Trae Young in 2018, they understood that he was a perfect fit for the system they were trying to build alongside Devin Booker (Paul would join them two years later).The 23-year-old Ayton has been inconsistent at times, but players who average17.2 points on 63.4 percent shooting and pull down 10.2 rebounds a game don't come along that often. Phoenix officially tied up Ayton for the next four seasons by matching the Pacers' offer, but that doesn't mean the franchise will keep him long term. They still have these options:Trade him.They could still move Ayton, but they wouldn't be able to Maliek Collins Jersey do so before Jan. 15, 2023, and Ayton holds veto power over a move for a year. Keep him.The Suns are still a pretty good team despite fizzling out in the second round. They could bring back the group's core for one more run in 2022-23. If it doesn't end with a championship, then they can look to move Ayton next summer after he loses his veto power.Matching Ayton's offer sheet has put the franchise about $15 million into the luxury tax, , which means that, for the moment, they are all-in on winning a championship.Time will tell how long that mindset lasts. Related Articles